Abstract

The rice grain during the resting stage shows very little of active enzymes. However, during the germination of seeds, the increase in enzymes is rapid. The seat of production of these enzymes, especially that of diastase, was investigated by scientists both by directly observing the histological changes in the cell contents during the germination of the seeds and also by examining the vitality possessed by different parts. Three parts of the seeds are essentially concerned in the production of enzymes during their germination viz. embryo, endosperm and aleurone layer. Evidences are strong to show that the epithelial layer of the scutellum secretes diastase; but the results of the previous investigators are contra- dictory with regard to the enzyme secreting capacity of the endosperm and the aleurone layer.

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